A public agency (formally an EPA, établissement public administratif) administered by the Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Community Life and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, CNED was originally established in Paris in 1939 to solve problems stemming from the fragmentation of the educational system. After the war, the institution contributed to the expansion of upward mobility. Since then, enrollments have grown with the expansion of educational offerings. CNED is the leading provider of lifelong learning in Europe and in the French-speaking world. The agency employs 5,000 teaching and nonteaching professionals in the design, delivery, and evaluation of educational programs and in student services and support.